Ruthless Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: The Truth About the Economy + Mike Rogers for Michigan
Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook
Special Guest: Mike Rogers, Senate Candidate (Michigan)

Overview

This high-energy episode of the Ruthless Podcast tackles the truth behind America’s economic struggles, punctured with signature humor and blunt critique. The cast dissects the ongoing “affordability” debate, the political sleight-of-hand from Democrats, and how the current administration’s policies have impacted everyday Americans’ wallets. They round out the proceedings with the inimitable “King of the Hill” game and an in-depth interview with Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers—making the episode both substantive and entertaining.

Main Discussion: “Affordability” and Economic Truths

The Real Story on the Economy

Key Points:

• Democrats are pushing an “affordability” narrative after years of disregarding rising prices and inflation.
• The crew argue that economic hardships are a result of Democratic policies, citing high inflation and the Affordable Care Act’s impact on healthcare premiums.

Notable Quotes

• Josh Holmes [00:00]: “The question is, what's the real story about why their pocketbook looks the way it does?”
• Michael Duncan [00:05]: “Isn't that sort of the funniest part of this, like, this, like, affordability ruse that the Democrats are pretending they care about?”

Timestamps & Segments

• 00:00–06:00: Panel satirically examines Democratic talking points on affordability, recalling government shutdowns and the inflation blame game.
• 03:01–04:36: Laughter over how past Democratic economic maneuvers have set today’s problems in motion.

Democratic “Moderates” & Red State Illusions

• Democrats advance moderates like Andy Beshear (KY) as the face of reason, but the hosts allege this is a façade for left-wing policymaking.
• John Ashbrook [05:18]: “Democrats will put somebody who seems moderate forward... Elizabeth Warren's entire staff is stealing your money, raising prices and ruining healthcare. This is how Democrats operate.”

Media Echo Chamber & the Messaging Game

• Hosts argue mainstream media uncritically parrot the Democratic narrative, shielding Democrats from accountability.
• Michael Duncan [08:23]: “Democrats are pretending they care about affordability… your first talking point is electric vehicles.”

Health Care: Obamacare & Democratic Spin

Whose Crisis?

• Democrats, led by Amy Klobuchar and others, now decry an “affordability crisis” in healthcare. The panel calls this intellectually dishonest since those same Democrats created and supported Obamacare.
• Josh Holmes [10:41]: “A health care system that she voted for along with every other Democrat, which Republicans unanimously said would break the marketplace and create higher priced health care.”

Notable Exchange

• Michael Duncan [11:40]: “Balls, the balls to say in one sentence that we need to fix our health care system because Donald Trump broke it. Our health care system is Obamacare.”

Bernie Sanders: The Outlier

• Bernie is cited as at least honest about the left’s goal: breaking the system to advance single-payer government healthcare.
• John Ashbrook [13:20]: “The only people that can be honest in the Democratic Party… are like, it didn't break the system enough.”

Timestamps

• 10:41–13:11: Obamacare’s failures, rising premiums, and the Democrats’ maneuver to shift blame.

The Democratic Economic Playbook

Graphics, Gaslighting, and Historical Revisionism

• The hosts lampoon misleading Senate Majority PAC graphics blaming Republicans for rising beef prices, despite data overwhelmingly showing price spikes under Biden.
• Josh Holmes [17:37]: “The price of beef skyrocketed in the four years that Joe Biden was President of the United States.”

Inflation, Wages & Gas Prices: The Trump vs. Biden Scorecard

• Michael Duncan [26:18]: “Inflation... averaged 2.7% so far. And Trump's second term averaged 5% under Biden and peaked at 9.1%."
• Real wage growth has been positive under Trump (+4%), but fell under Biden (-1.3%), meaning Americans actually lost purchasing power due to higher inflation.

Notable Analogy

• Josh Holmes [28:15]: "It's like getting caught in a whorehouse and being like, oh, abstinence only, folks."

Timestamps

• 26:18–28:09: Trump-Biden comparison: inflation and wage growth.
• 29:11: Steve Schmidt (the show's Steve, not the well-known political strategist) asks for visuals to highlight the economic pain under Biden.

Political Strategy & Messaging

Winning the Narrative

• Republicans must focus on “pocketbook” issues—real, tangible concerns to voters—rather than let Democrats control the narrative.
• Josh Holmes [19:47]: “If there's one area where you're going to break your pick, this is it... The idea that you're going to allow A bunch of Democrats who systematically ruined health care and the pocketbooks of most Americans to frame a debate about affordability…”

Looking Forward, Not Backward

• There’s an acknowledgment that while it’s critical to explain how we got here, candidates must also provide a positive vision for future growth.
• Josh Holmes [34:14]: “The great challenge for every president... is to discuss things not as this is the best thing ever now, because no one has ever voted for now.”

King of the Hill: Signature Ruthless Game

(42:00–53:51)

• The hilarious guessing game spotlights the absurdities of online political personalities (notably Steve Schmidt and Ron Filipowski).
• Notable Moment:
  • Josh Holmes [46:19]: “If you know the story of Rocky, you know that Rocky won. Nothing. ...but him standing. The whole story was about him staying in the fight. Right? The most inspirational tale of all time.”
• Banter includes riffing on Democrats “rooting for Apollo Creed” simply because Trump associates with Rocky imagery and wild social media accusations by the game’s subjects.

Featured Interview: Mike Rogers for Michigan Senate

(54:23–78:49)

Background & Context

• Mike Rogers is seeking to become the first Republican in Michigan’s Senate delegation since 1994.

Key Points

• Michigan’s moment: Open seat, fractured Democratic field, energized and unified Republican base.

  • Mike Rogers [54:40]: “30 years putting a Republican back in the state of Michigan, which is crazy because we're a 50.50 state even at best.”

• Rogers touts his blue-collar appeal and practical approach, contrasting with what he paints as Democratic extremism on issues like EV mandates and transgender athlete participation.

  • Mike Rogers [58:00]: “We have another one who believes that the California EV mandates, which would eliminate ... people who make gas engines, voted in support of that, should be great.”
  • Mike Rogers [58:19]: “And then the last one is kind of leading the charge on putting men in women's sports and women's locker rooms.”

• The importance of addressing economic opportunity, reviving manufacturing, and restoring federal attention to Michigan.

  • Mike Rogers [62:46]: “We used to build tanks... That doesn't happen in Michigan. ...I argue it's because you haven't had a senator who is willing to use the leverage of the United States Senate to keep us in the game.”

Culture Issues and Law Enforcement

• Rogers criticizes Democrats for “defunding police,” supporting criminals over victims, and “social worker” approaches to crime.

  • Mike Rogers [72:20]: “We’ve had folks want to defund the police... their job is hard on a good day, let alone when you take away their protections and you make them the bad guys.”

• Gives a real-world example of parental outrage over transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports and using locker rooms.

  • Mike Rogers [75:17]: “The courage of this young woman, who yesterday got up to the microphone and told people why it was wrong. Good for her... But think about what it took for her. I mean, a lot of guts to come up and have the guts to talk about, but the fact that she has to do it, that Democrats have lost their mind.”

Healthcare & Policy Solutions

• Rogers positions himself as knowledgeable from past efforts in Congress:
  • Mike Rogers [68:34]: “We got to drive that home... Our answer is winning, by the way. You had your chance. You gave us this monster [Obamacare].”

Closing Message

• Mike Rogers [77:35]: “If you're looking to make a difference in a race... this is the place to make that investment because it will make it tough because they just count on this seat. We can always win this.”

Where to Support:

• RogersForSenate.com

Closing Thoughts

Josh Holmes [79:14]:
"Proud to spotlight a candidate who 'knows and talks about [the issues]' ... He’s just an absolutely terrific guy and I can’t wait to see what the success that brings in that campaign."

Steve Schmidt [79:58]:
"Absolute banger of an episode… keep the faith, hold the line and own the libs. We’ll see you on Friday. Stay ruthless."

Key Timestamps by Topic

• 00:00–06:00: Affordability narrative origins; government shutdown context
• 10:41–14:53: Obamacare origins, Democrat blame-shifting, Bernie honesty
• 17:01–18:54: Senate Majority PAC’s misleading graphics dissected
• 26:18–28:09: Real wage and inflation facts, Biden vs. Trump
• 42:00–53:51: King of the Hill game: roasting political absurdities
• 54:23–78:49: In-depth Mike Rogers interview: Michigan Senate race & key policy issues

Summary Tone:
Unapologetically irreverent, blunt, and humorous, with sharp critique of Democratic policies and messaging, framed as a wake-up call for conservative listeners.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:
This episode embodies Ruthless’ signature style: mixing fierce policy critique with entertainment. It’s a must-listen for those wanting conservative analysis of the economy, healthcare, and 2024 electoral prospects—along with a front seat to the Michigan Senate race and plenty of quotable zingers.